Cafe Artistique Cardiff
Buffalo Bar
7.00pm
Thursday 10 September 2009
Alex Pearl & John Plowman in conversation
Join Axis and G39 in Cardiff for an evening of lively discussion investigating notions of failure as part of the creative process and the status of art existing somewhere between ‘inspiration and fabrication’.
Alex PearlProtest Films, 2006Need help using video and audio?
‘Today, artists complain that they have no practical impact on society, that their projects fail, that they cannot change the world. But, fundamentally, every work is senseless and every project fails…Art is a wonderful place where you can reflect on the failure of utopia – repeating time and again, it is something that is almost impossible outside of art.’
Boris Groys, Tate Etc. Summer ‘09
Alex Pearl makes mini epic films, video installations, sculpture and books. Throughout his work lies an acceptance of failure and disappointment as important aspects of the human condition. By using readily available materials, discovered objects and impromptu processes, he makes works that are comparable with a sketch or a doodle, an initial throwaway idea made visible. Making light of big issues, his work is, in turn, both haunting and funny.
John Plowman Arts, Humanities and Science, 2008
John Plowman’s practice encompasses both curatorial and studio activity, each of which informs the other. His studio practice focuses on the temporal aspect of art production in which the site of exhibition is also the site of production, with a focus on who bears witness to this production- artist, audience, or both. It is his interest in the role of the audience that has informed the development of his curatorial project Beacon which he established, with Nicola Streeten, in 2004.
• It is commonly said that you learn more from your failures than successes, so does making work that celebrates our limitations and frustrations teach us something about ourselves?
• At what point do ‘interventions’ become so discreet that they barely engage with the audience at all?
• How much does art rely on interaction with an audience?
Cafe Artistique is running a question-time style evening and we want you to join in now!
Your ponderings, comments and questions are welcome both before and on the evening. Get involved in the debate - it starts online now!
I want to start posting now
Café Artistique is free and there's no need to book.
How to get there:
Buffalo Bar
11 Windsor Place
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF10 3BY
Tel: 029 2031 0312
Alex Pearl on Axis
John Plowman on Axis
Café Artistique Cardiff is an Axis initiative delivered in partnership with G39 and funded by The Arts Council of Wales.
Sign up to our e-bulletins to be the first to know about events taking place near you.
